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Recent updates to Xianlu: (Generated at 2025-05-01 14:24:24)
To argue from another perspective, why give yet another way to disrupt and remove blockers to
if they already have so many tools? It'd be like giving 
the ability to only counter creature spells. It provides some marginal benefit and doesn't really change how the color functions mechanically outside of giving it a few extra upsides, but why would you use it as a tool for design when other mechanics fulfill similar functions? I feel like untapped bounce would be more akin to extending 
's discard abilities - it's a softer way to deal with a weakness that extends its suite (making it more proactive rather than reactive) but still makes it less effective than a color that is suited for it (making discard weaker than black discard). In tapped bounce's case, White and Blue are much better suited to deal with opposing aggression.
I assume it's due to our differing philosophies of the color wheel - I view "color is weak in X" not as "color shouldn't have X" but rather "color should get X if its weaker than other color's versions of X". Similar to your opinions regarding artifacts.
Hmm. I made it not mandatory because I can see some slower decks wanting it and then getting wrecked by it, but I also like the targetted effect... Since the flavor is that the tattoos are skinned and read after you kill it, I think if anything I'd make it mandatory only for self if too many slower decks want this.
All these different Talisman 'revoking costs' irritate me. I would consider standardizing one way or another.
Here's a quick sketch:
> "Revoke"
(Enchanted permanent's controller may pay 
at any time to have you draw a card and sacrifice this Aura.)
Draw's there to make it more questionable whether the ability is actually a drawback or not.
Not fan of the "3 life" here...
> Whenever enchanted creature is dealt damage, its controller loses that much life.
Ragged Veins?
This is currently the only card in the set with an off-color activation cost... maybe turn it into a cycle of uncommon build-around-me s?
Yet another card with this effect. IMO the card is rather tame for a rare.
Meh. How about:
>
: Until end of turn, you may cast target instant or sorcery card from your graveyard. If that card would be put into your graveyard this turn, exile it instead. (You still pay its costs.)
Aye, since this isn't -0/-2 (which would be weird) this is most certainly strictly better than Pharika's Cure and the like.
is quite often used cost for these cards (Douse in Gloom) and for common it might be more reasonable just for the sake of 'splashability'.
That was kinda the thing there, returning untapped creatures doesn't indeed mechanically really change
that much, just extends its already existing abilities. It keeps the color thematically the same.
Obviously something that the color doesn't currently do "works better in" it, but it's more of a bleed IMO. Ie. Creature destruction would "work better" in
than discard since it has few ways to permanently deal with resolved threats.
This could easily omit
from its cost IMO, but whatever.
Should the effect be mandatory and/or targeted, like Sign in Blood?
Wow it's like Phyrexian Gargantua except on death and more aggressive stats. Meant for more aggressive decks.
The aforesaid Unsubstantiate gets around Last Word as well so..?
This gets around Last Word. There's a reason why Remand says "Counter target spell. If you do..." Whether or not that's important to you, though, is up to you.
I was considering those end step 'exceptions', but since this is an uncommon I would see them more as a "feature" rather than a bug.
It's a bit of a dilemma. I like your interpretation of white Raise Dead as "return to your maker", but I also love playing around with white reanimation shenanigans like Rally the Ancestors, Return to the Ranks, and Reveillark. I think this new version satisfies both itches quite nicely, but yeah, I don't particularly need this to wow anyone or inspire people to create a deck - it's a role-filler for a deck with minor combo potential. I do want to put Reflex on this, though...
I like that version, actually, though there might be some initial play/memory issues if a spell is countered during the end step. I especially like it because it prevents you from being able to discard the card with black spells while it's exiled - very cool philosophically (though it's highly unlikely to ever come up). I'll try your version first and if there are any issues that pop up with countering spells at end step, I'll switch it back to this version.
The name is inspired by the dubiously-grammatical transliterations of tai chi forms - for example, the ones listed here. Blue sequence spells are "softer" forms while red sequence spells are more forceful variations of those forms. The lack of an indefinite article is done on purpose, since I feel like it's more familiar to westerners as something out of a cheap Kung Fu flick - especially American westerners. "Falling Swallow" is a good name, though - but I like the overly wordy names for attacks since it makes the feel of the set a bit less serious.
"Descend Like a Hawk"? "Hawk Descend"? "Rising/Falling/Flying Swallow"?
That name looks like the weirdest creature spell.
Since there are a reasonable amount of Spirits, here's a fun way to punish them that is meant for sideboards only. Very similar to Urgent Exorcism, intentionally.
Obviously different but how about
> Exile target spell. Return it to its owner's hand at the beginning of the next end step.
derp I meant "until becomes tapped" so "as long as ~ remains sitting"
Well, I've been thinking for a while that maybe white should get Disentomb effects (Appointed Return) and black should only get cards that return straight from grave to battlefield. Returning to hand IMO matches the reincarnation/rapture flavor as in "return to your maker". These Unearth cards are derived from white's weenies theme so it comes from a rather mechanical perspective. I mean, it's fine, but I don't find it inspiring or anything.
Reads weird "That player can't cast spells with the same name as that spell this turn." causes less head scratches.
Obvious redflag change but hopefully should differentiate it a bit from Seeing Spectres and Tomb Wanderer. Honestly feels a bit more black, but I think it can be stretched to white.